Posted 10/28/2006 04:50:00 PM by Douglas

Yet another disgusting story about the war on drugs. This time, Fort Bend County, Texas

"It was bang, bang, bang, then there was a boom as they broke the door in, threw the fire grenade, and then shot the dog," said homeowner Margot Allen. "This all happened in anywhere from five to fifteen seconds."

That's how Allen's son and boyfriend describe what happened that day. Sugar Land police acted on a tip. They say they found traces of marijuana and cocaine in her trash after a month-long investigation.

"There's no crack done in my house," she said. "There's occasional marijuana in my house. I don't do it because I don't happen to like it."

Based on the evidence in the trash, a regional SWAT team arrived at the home. Police say they knocked, waited 30 seconds, and then broke in with guns and a concussion grenade. The house suffered $5,000 damage and one officer shot and killed Margot's golden lab, Shadow, when police say it charged toward one of the officers. What did officers find inside?

"A joint half the size of my pinky fingernail and then one about this big," she said, showing a length on her finger. "And not anywhere near this big around."

Wow. A single joint, and a SWAT team kicks in your door and shoots your dog. Not at crack-house, but a suburban Houston home. Not a pit bull or a rottweiler, but a Labrador. Where is the public outrage? Is the majority of the population so complacent that they think this is a suitable response from law enforcement for a single joint? I suppose so.

The Sugar Land Police Department declined an on-camera interview, but they are defending their actions, saying they followed protocol to the letter.

Well that answers that. Police are justified in using diversionary grenades, kicking in doors, discharging fire arms at the family pet, all for one joint! It's not disturbing that this is out template for the Fort Bend County SWAT team, it's that this conforms with their protocol to the letter. Wake up, America, it's time to protect ourselves from the drug war.